Freight stabilizing cleat



y 27, 1952 w. T. PEYTON 2,598,068

FREIGHT STABILIZING CLEAT Filed Sept. 25, 1948 Mum/w PErTo/V INVENTOR.

A T TOR/VI I Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicEfIf FREIGHT STABILIZIN G CLEAT William T. Peyton, Dallas, Tex.

Application September 25, 1948, Serial No. 51,229

1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for preventing displacement and shifting of freight during transportation thereof and it has particular reference to improvements in braces especially adapted for prohibiting the rolling of freight shipments in cylindrical form such as barrels, drums, cable reels and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a freight stabilizing brace which, because of its novel design, offers greatest resistance to a cylindrical body having the tendency to roll under impetus imposed by erratic movements of a freight car, truck or other transporting medium, yet occupying but a minimum of space as compared to conventional dunnage, usually consisting of blocks of wood nailed to the floor of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freight brace consisting of a strap of heavy gauge metal stock, bent into a 45 degree angle, and provided at one end with a floor anchorage and bifurcated at its opposite end, with one leg of the bifurcated end turned at an angle to the plane of the brace thus to provide a freight engaging shoe to prevent rolling of the freight while the companion leg bears against and prohibits endwise displacement of the freight.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a group of freight braces embodying the invention, disposed to stabilize a cylindrical object, such as a barrel or drum, shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a brace per se, on a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the brace.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a brace shown on a reduced scale and revealing its freight engaging end as adjusted to conform to the vertical wall of a box or crate.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the angular freight engaging portion of the brace as bent in an opposite direction.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein the invention is shown as consisting of a length of heavy gauge strap metal, one end I of which is the minor portion and constitutes the anchor plate. To secure the plate to the floor of a freight car or other transporting vehicle, the corners of the same are bent at right angles to the plane of the plate to form prongs II which are driven into the floor. Supplementing the prongs II as a retaining agency, nails l2 are driven into the floor through holes l3 in the plate I0.

The major portion [4 of the strap constitutes the actual brace and is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the anchor or minor portion ll! of the device. The purpose of the arrangement is to dispose the angle I 4 of the brace radially with respect to the center of the mass of a cylindrical body such as a roll of print paper, a cable reel or the like, thus to offer the greatest resistance to displacement of the body under impetus of car movements.

The free end of the load bearing or compression arm H of the brace is bifurcated to define parallel legs, one of the legs l5 being turned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the arm H to lie flush against the surface of the freight, whether the latter is straight walled as indicated at It; in Figures 4 and 5 or cylindrical in shape as indicated at I I in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the freight engaging portion a leg [5 is at right angles to the plane of the compression arm l4 while in Figures 4 and 5, the leg 15 is disposed at a more acute angle with respect to the arm [4 and is turned upwardly and downwardly respectively in these figures in order to reveal the various adaptations of the device.

The companion legs l8 of the bifurcated end of the load bearing or compression arm I4 is maintained in alignment with the arm and is adapted to engage an end of the body to be braced or stabilized, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. In being thus disposed, the freight is held against longitudinal or lateral displacement while the angular companion leg l5 prohibits rolling of the freight if the latter is in cylindrical form.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A carload bracing cleat for a freight car comprising a strap of heavy gauge metal of greater length than width, one end of which constitutes a floor anchor plate, a load bearing compression arm inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the plane of said anchor plate and adapted to be disposed radially with respect to the center of the mass of a load braced thereby, said arm having a bifurcated upper end, one of said bifurcations being turned at an angle to the langitudinal axis of said arm to engage one side of said load to prohibit movement thereof in one direction, the companion bifurcation of said arm engaging another side of said load to prohibit movement thereof in another direction, and means for securing said bracing cleat to the floor of a car at a point spaced away from the load braced thereby through said floor anchor plate.

WILLIAM T. PEYTON.

The following references are of record in the REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,828 McNaughton Aug. 8, 1911 1,545,594 Michod July 14, 1925 1,623,895 Turnbaugh Apr. 5, 1927 10 1,757,856 Johnson May 6, 1930 

